The Dispute Index

Ben Cline

Portrait of Ben Cline
Nate Payne, House Creative Services

United States Representative and Republican candidate for U.S. House in Virginia's 6th district.

Republican candidate for U.S. House in Virginia's 6th Congressional District (2026)
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What we have documented

We have documented 4 statements by Ben Cline, in 3 cases. Each statement below gives the quotation, its original source and a link to the full case.

Case updates

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Statements by Ben Cline

Portrait of Ben Cline

Ben Cline

Role at the time: U.S. Representative, Virginia 6th district

Defended or excused

Statement summary

Ben Cline voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 93, the House resolution directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.

“On Agreeing to the Resolution: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”
Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)U.S. House Roll Call Vote 307: H.Con.Res. 93, Iran War Powers Resolution (agreed to, 220-204)
Why we used this label

A nay vote opposed the resolution directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, allowing U.S. military operations in the war to continue.

Read statementFull case: Do they support the war in Iran?
Portrait of Ben Cline

Ben Cline

Role at the time: U.S. representative (R) from Virginia's 6th District running for reelection

Condemned

Statement summary

Ben Cline said any Virginia municipality using Flock's technology should stop, and that Americans have a constitutional right to live free from unchecked government surveillance.

“Any Virginia municipality using this technology should stop Americans have a constitutional right to live their lives free from unchecked government surveillance. New technology does not strip citizens of that right.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Cline Calls on Virginia Municipalities to Halt Use of Flock CamerasSecond paragraph
Why we used this label

The reference point is whether networked license-plate readers such as Flock should exist and be used. Cline says any Virginia municipality using the technology should stop, citing a constitutional right to be free from unchecked government surveillance. That is a call to end local use, so we used Condemned.

Read statementFull case: Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?
Portrait of Ben Cline

Ben Cline

Role at the time: U.S. representative

Defended or excused

Statement summary

Ben Cline signed a letter urging nationwide NFA non-enforcement to avoid unequal treatment and requesting that DOJ decline an appeal and begin rulemaking.

“Action: Signed an August 11 letter urging DOJ to apply the NFA ruling nationwide, decline an appeal and begin rulemaking.”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)Forty-seven members of Congress urge nationwide NFA non-enforcementPages 1-2, policy request; pages 3-8, all 47 signatures
Why we used this label

The reference is nationwide NFA non-enforcement. Signing a letter expressly requesting that policy supports it, even though the letter predates ATF's October announcement.

Read statementFull case: Was ATF right to stop enforcing registration requirements for silencers and short-barreled guns?
Portrait of Ben Cline

Ben Cline

Role at the time: U.S. Representative for Virginia at the statement date.

Defended or excused

Statement summary

Rep. Ben Cline wrote in his March 4 weekly newsletter that Operation Epic Fury delivered justice in response to Ayatollah Khamenei's rule. A later section of the newsletter says Trump defended American citizens and restored American strength by confronting Khamenei.

“Operation Epic Fury delivered justice in response to the actions of Ayatollah Khamenei’s ruthless and tyrannical rule.”
Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline | U.S. Representative Ben ClineWeekly newsletter dated March 4, 2026, second highlight bullet at the top; the Operation Epic Fury section follows later in the newsletter
Why we used this label

The case asks about support for the war in Iran. Cline wrote that Operation Epic Fury delivered justice and later says Trump put America First by defending citizens, which supports the operation, so we used Defended or excused.

Read statementFull case: Do they support the war in Iran?

A participant is a subject of the case. A speaker has a statement documented in it. A commentator has an opinion or editorial documented in it.

Case

Do they support the war in Iran?

Relationship to this case: Speaker

Where members of Congress and 2026 midterm candidates stand on the Iran war, which Congress has not formally authorized, based on their votes on war-powers resolutions, campaign statements and public remarks.

Iran WarU.S. PoliticsUpdated

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